No one knew how the news of DeathMark's condition got out, but it did. The arrogance to ask for the Queen Mother to meet him pissed off a lot of powerful members and loyal followers of the pantheon. Though anger was the highest, there were several other emotions that passed through several other members of the pantheon.
The Gods that seek enjoyment and fun found the whole situation to be an enjoyable show. Different eyes were already focused down on DeathMark. He had yet to make his full official debut, yet even then, several powers had crushed down on him, several enemies already having been formed, all just awaiting a chance to strike.
While the world burned with unbridled fury outside, within the halls of the palace of the Queen Mother, Goddess Hera, she sat on a throne with her eyes closed. Her beauty was so stunning that if not at a certain level of cultivation, the minds of the weak would be lost, falling into such a powerful trance that they would die for her.
Weaker ones' minds would just explode from the depth of her beauty; not just anyone could gaze at her, and that being the truth, the Goddess Hera's hair flowed like a cascade of molten gold, each strand shimmering with an ethereal glow that seemed to capture the essence of the sun itself. Her eyes, a deep, mesmerizing emerald green, sparkled with wisdom and an unyielding power, capable of seeing through the souls of those who dared to meet her gaze.
Her body, sculpted to perfection, radiated the allure of a goddess who embodied both fertility and regal authority. Her skin, smooth and unblemished, glowed with a divine radiance that made her appear almost otherworldly. Hera's form was both voluptuous and statuesque, a testament to her status as the queen of Olympus. Her curves were accentuated by the flowing, sheer fabrics that draped around her, hinting at the sensuality beneath while maintaining an air of majestic dignity.
Her presence was overwhelming, a blend of grace and raw power. The air around her seemed to thrum with her divine energy, a palpable force that commanded respect and awe. Soon within the chamber, a voice sounded out.
"Goddess, the fool has accepted the invitation."
Hearing the message, a certain light flashed through the eyes of Hera, just curiosity bubbling in her eyes, no hint of fear from the threat the boy named as DeathMark spoke of her, just a hint of fun at perhaps a little toy that she might be able to break, that is all that she feels at the moment.
"I will meet him in the room," Hera replied in a commanding tone as she closed her eyes, the connection to All-Realm soon taking place.
An exact replica of the same place Hera was in showed up in the All-Realm, seemingly no change having taken place as Hera sat on the throne, her visage now blinded, such that fog covered over her, her immortal God form hidden from view as light particles started to gather around. The form of DeathMark, the one draped in a cloak, soon appeared, and gazing at him hidden within the veil, Hera's eyes narrowed.
'Huh.....so this is peak luxury?' Azrail thought as he first gazed around the room, the whole place being blinding with Azrail not even being able to see the ceiling, several powerful green and gold glowing pillars spread across the whole place, its sheer size and height making Azrail feel smaller than an ant, not to mention that he couldn't even see where the pillar ends.
In front of him sat the most stunning throne that would make anyone's eyes pop out.
The throne itself was a marvel of divine craftsmanship, carved from the finest marble that shimmered with a celestial glow. Intricate patterns of gold and silver wove through the stone, depicting scenes of mythic battles and legendary love stories. The backrest rose high, arching elegantly like the wings of a mighty eagle, encrusted with countless precious gems that sparkled like the stars. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and diamonds formed constellations that seemed to dance with a life of their own, casting a mesmerizing light show across the vast hall.
The armrests were smooth, polished to perfection, and adorned with golden inlays that twisted into the shapes of serpents, their eyes set with tiny, radiant sapphires. Cushions of the richest, deepest purple velvet provided both comfort and a stark contrast to the gleaming stone and metal, inviting yet commanding respect from any who dared approach.
'So that's the throne that Hephaestus had made to trap Hera'
Leaving his gaze off the throne he focused to the floor which was an expanse of pristine white marble, so flawless it seemed almost like a reflection pool, capturing and amplifying the divine light that filled the space. The ceiling, though unseen by Azrail, was known to be an endless canvas of ever-shifting mosaics, illustrating the glories of Olympus and the divine tales of its gods and goddesses.
The air was thick with the scent of ambrosia, the divine fragrance adding to the overwhelming sensory experience. Fountains of crystal-clear water, flowing from the mouths of marble lions, added a gentle, melodic backdrop to the otherwise awe-inspiring silence of the hall.
A creeping silence formed as Azrail looked around after which he turned to look at Hera sitting on the throne. Nothing about her could be seen by him, her whole form hidden under the veil of her powers. The moment Azrail saw her, he bowed respectfully as he held his hand.
"I greet the queen mother, the wife of Zeus," Azrail spoke, adding the last words that boosted Hera's pride. The silence still flowed on for a moment after which Hera spoke.
"Tell me, where do you thrive?"
The moment she spoke, it was as if millions of ants were crawling into Azrail's mind, trying to get inside it, but that disappeared just as it came. Azrail quickly regained his mind, which deepened the interest that had appeared in Hera's eyes.
"I am just a humble man coming from a small realm with large dreams," Azrail replied, his response not giving off anything much, but Hera was patient. She liked playing with her toys before she broke them. Hera leaned her head toward her hand as she spoke.
"How did a little nobody like you then learn about the Hercules incident?"
At the end of her words, the pressure around them got heavier. Azrail could feel his knees buckling, and he knew that Hera wasn't even exerting anything; she had just released 0.1% of her presence within the place. Her voice, beautiful enough to get many to bow at her, once again banged against Azrail's mind as he tried to stabilize it.
'Looks like it's going according to plan.'
The only reason that Hera hasn't just killed him yet or tried to use her full force is for her to wait and see what he can show her, to try and reel in the secrets that he might be hiding. Even above that, she wants to get information about how Azrail came to know what he knows.
'But the moment she gets bored, she will use full force.'
Azrail deeply understood the mind of Hera, thus he would use it now to his advantage to get what he wanted.